Comparison · Stream delay tools
OBS stream delay tools compared
OBS locks its own Stream Delay once you're live. A handful of tools fix that. Here is how InstantClone, OBS's built-in delay, InstantDelay, AntiSnipe and OBS Dynamic Delay line up, using only what each project says about itself.
Updated
Side by side
Compare InstantClone with
| InstantClone | OBS built-in | InstantDelay | AntiSnipe | OBS Dynamic Delay | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | |||||
| Price | Free | Free | €5.99 a monthor €49.99 a year, €129 lifetime, after a 30-day trial | CA$4.99 a monthor CA$45 a year, after a 7-day trial | Free |
| Source code | Open sourceGPL-3.0 | Open sourceGPL-2.0 | Not listed | Not listed | Open sourceGPL-2.0-or-later |
| Where it runs | |||||
| Systems | Windows, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows | Windows | Windows, macOS, LinuxWindows 10 and 11, macOS 13+, Ubuntu 24.04 |
| Works with | OBS Studio, Streamlabs DesktopStreamlabs experimental, Windows only | OBS Studio | OBS, Streamlabs, Aitum, SE.Liveand Restream workflows | OBS Studio | OBS Studio 32.2 |
| How it works | Separate appOBS streams to it | Built into OBS | Separate appOBS streams to it | Separate appOBS streams to it | Plugin inside OBS |
| Delay on a separate server | Yesheadless on a Linux VPS | Noinside OBS | Not listed | Not listed | Noinside OBS |
| While you're live | |||||
| Delay range | Up to 1 houras much as your buffer holds | 1 s to 30 min | 0 to 10 min | 5 s to 5 min | 1 s to 5 min |
| Change the delay while live | Yes | Noit applies from the next stream | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multistream | YesTwitch, YouTube, Kick, Trovo, Restream.io and custom RTMP, plus vertical 9:16 | Noone destination | YesTwitch, YouTube, Kick, TikTok, Restream.io and custom RTMP | YesTwitch, YouTube, Kick and custom RTMP | Yesup to 8 RTMP or RTMPS destinations |
| Reconnects when a platform drops | Yeseach destination on its own | YesAutomatically Reconnect setting | Not listed | Yeseach destination on its own | Not listed |
| Stream stays up if OBS crashes | Yesviewers see a reconnect screen | No | Not listed | Not listed | Noit runs inside OBS |
| Delays recordings too | Nothe stream only | Nothe stream only | Not listed | Not listed | Yesstreaming and recording, each on its own |
| Control | |||||
| Delay controls in OBS | Yesan OBS dock | Noa setting, not live controls | Yesan OBS dock | Not listed | Yesits own OBS docks |
| Stream Deck | Yesthrough its HTTP API | No | Yesits own plugin | Yesits own plugin, plus one for Ulanzi | Not listed |
| Global hotkeys | Yesand MIDI, on Windows | No | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| On-stream overlay | Yesan overlay studio in the app | No | Yesan overlay builder | Yesa delay notice for OBS | Not listed |
| Chat, Discord and alerts | Built inTwitch chat commands, Discord alerts and phone pushes, experimental | No | Not listed | !delay commanda public API your chatbot reads | Not listed |
- Yes
- No
- Not listed on its own site
From each project's own website, docs, source code and release notes, checked October 2026: obsproject.com, instant-delay.com, antisnipe.com and obsdelay.com. "Not listed" means we found no mention of it there. Prices change, so check each site for current pricing.
What InstantClone does differently
Stays live if OBS crashes
Viewers see a reconnect screen, and the stream carries on when OBS is back.
Only one in this tableRuns on a server
Headless on a Linux VPS: your PC uploads once, the server sends to every platform.
Only one in this tableGlobal hotkeys and MIDI
Arm, activate and cut over a fullscreen game, on Windows.
Only one in this tableChat, Discord and phone, built in
Its own Twitch chat commands, a Discord alert that updates itself, phone pushes. Experimental.
Free and open source
GPL-3.0, no account, no trial. OBS Dynamic Delay is free and open too.
No re-encoding
OBS's video passes through untouched, Twitch Enhanced Broadcasting included.
When another tool fits better
- You stream from a MacOBS Dynamic Delay runs on macOS. InstantClone doesn't yet.
- You want nothing else to installOBS Dynamic Delay lives inside OBS.
- You want a dedicated Stream Deck pluginInstantDelay and AntiSnipe have their own. InstantClone uses web requests.
- You stream with Aitum or SE.LiveInstantDelay lists both. InstantClone lists OBS, and Streamlabs Desktop as experimental.
- You want the delay on without waitingInstantDelay's Instant Mode (beta) skips the buffer fill.
- You want your recording delayed tooOBS Dynamic Delay delays recordings as well, and shows a hold scene while it fills.
App or plugin?
InstantClone, InstantDelay and AntiSnipe are separate apps that OBS streams to. OBS Dynamic Delay is a plugin that delays the output inside OBS.
- Twitch
- YouTube
- Kick
- Twitch
- YouTube
- Kick
A plugin means nothing else to install, and it can delay your recording too. The trade-offs, from its own README: version 1.2.0 is built for OBS 32.2, a second video encoder runs on your gaming PC while the delay fills, and multi-track Enhanced Broadcasting isn't supported. Being inside OBS, it also goes down with OBS if OBS freezes or crashes.
Ready to try it? The step by step guide covers setup on Windows and Linux.
Questions
Is there a free alternative to InstantDelay and AntiSnipe?
Yes. InstantClone and OBS Dynamic Delay are both free and open source. InstantDelay costs €5.99 a month, €49.99 a year or €129 lifetime after a 30-day trial, and AntiSnipe CA$4.99 a month or CA$45 a year after a 7-day trial.
Which stream delay tools work on Linux or macOS?
InstantClone runs on Windows and Linux, including headless on a Linux VPS. OBS Dynamic Delay runs on Windows, macOS and Ubuntu 24.04. InstantDelay and AntiSnipe are Windows only.
Which stream delay tool keeps the stream live if OBS crashes?
Of the tools here, only InstantClone lists it: with crash protection on, viewers see a reconnect screen instead of an offline stream, and the stream carries on over the same connection when OBS is back. OBS's built-in delay and OBS Dynamic Delay run inside OBS, so they stop with it.
Can I change the stream delay without restarting the stream?
With InstantClone, InstantDelay, AntiSnipe or OBS Dynamic Delay, yes. OBS's own Stream Delay setting is locked while you are live, so changing it means stopping and starting the stream again.
Is OBS Dynamic Delay the same as the Dynamic Delay filter?
No. Dynamic Delay by Exeldro is a filter on a video source made for rewinds and slow motion, and it delays the picture but not the audio. OBS Dynamic Delay from obsdelay.com is a different project that delays the audio too.
InstantClone is an independent project, not affiliated with or endorsed by any other project on this page.